Sturmsch?den im Wald

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Isolation and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose of strawberry in south west Spain

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is a major disease of cultivated strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa. This study identifies the Colletotrichum spp. which causes strawberry anthracnose in the southwest of Spain. A survey of the region was carried out, and the strains isolated were identified as C. acutatum by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with genus and species-specific primers, demonstrating that this species is currently the causal agent of strawberry anthracnose in the studied region. The pathogenicity of C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides strains was evaluated on two principal strawberry cultivars (cvs Camarosa and Ventana) under field conditions, the latter being more pathogenic than the former.     

Natural hybridization between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its wild relatives Aegilops geniculata Roth and Aegilops triuncialis L.

BACKGROUND

Cultivated bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spontaneously hybridizes with wild/weedy related Aegilops populations, but little is known about the actual rates at which this hybridization occurs under field conditions. It is very important to provide reliable empirical data on this phenomenon in order to assess the potential crop–wild introgression, especially in the context of conducting risk assessments for the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) wheat, as gene flow from wheat to Aegilops species could transfer into the wild species genes coding for traits such as resistance to herbicides, insects, diseases or environmental stresses.

RESULTS

The spontaneous hybridization rates between wheat and A. geniculata and A. triuncialis, which are very abundant in the Mediterranean area, have been estimated for the first time in the northern part of the Meseta Central, the great central plateau which includes the largest area of wheat cultivation in Spain. Hybridization rates averaged 0.12% and 0.008% for A. geniculata and A. triuncialis, respectively. Hybrids were found in 26% of A. geniculata and 5% of A. triuncialis populations, at rates that can be ≤3.6% for A. geniculata and 0.24% for A. triuncialis.

CONCLUSION

The detection of Aegilops spp.–wheat hybrids in Aegilops populations indicates that gene flow can occur, although wheat is considered a crop with a low-to-medium risk for transgene escape. These data on field hybridization rates are essential for GM wheat risk assessment purposes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Biometrical, biological, biochemical and molecular characteristics of Meloidogyne incognita isolates and related species

Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most polyphagous species of root-knot nematodes occurring in Brazil and worldwide. Eight M. incognita isolates were studied, representing two enzymatic phenotypes (esterase and malate desydrogenase: I1/N1, I2/N1) and four cryptic Meloidogyne sp.1 (S2/N1) isolates, representing one cytological type (3n?=?40–46). Three M. hispanica isolates (Hi3/N1, 2n?=?32–36) and two of an atypical Meloidogyne sp.2 (S2a/N3, 3n?=?40–44) were included in this study for comparison. All isolates were tested with three M. incognita-specific molecular markers. The primer pairs B06F/R, miF/R and incK14F/R amplified three species-specific fragments of 1,200?bp, 955?bp and 399?bp, respectively for M. incognita and Meloidogyne sp.1 isolates. No amplification occurred in the M. hispanica and Meloidogyne sp.2 isolates, except with primers miF/R (1,650?bp). The genetic variability of the Meloidogyne spp. isolates was evaluated, using RAPD and ISSR markers. The phylogenetic analyses revealed two strongly supported monophyletic clades: clade I, consisting of M. hispanica and the atypical Meloidogyne sp.2 isolates, and clade II, clustering together all M. incognita and the Meloidogyne sp.1 isolates. Considering the biometrical, cytological and molecular approaches, it was possible to conclude that the isolates with three enzymatic phenotypes (I1/N1, I2/N1 and S2/N1) presented the characteristics described for M. incognita. Some correlations were detected between the isozymatic phenotypes and the tree topology (S2a/N3, Hi3/N1, I1/N1, S2/N1), but no strict correlation could be observed for the phenotype I2/N1 and one isolate of S2/N1. Morphologically, the Msp.2 isolates differ from M. incognita and M. hispanica by the female stylet features presenting straight cone tip and round pear shaped knobs, posteriorly sloping. The results of this study suggested that the Msp.2 isolates with phenotypes S2aN3 belong to a new or an unidentified species closely related to M. hispanica.     

Effect of salicylic acid treatment on tomato plant physiology and tolerance to potato virus X infection

Salicylic acid (SA) is an inducer of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and could be a potential candidate in the control of plant virus diseases. In this study we assayed under controlled conditions the potential effect of three doses of exogenous SA treatment on tomato plants infected with Potato virus X (PVX) and measured their effects on: different physiological parameters (gas exchange, stable isotopes, chlorophyll content), the activation of secondary metabolism, viral accumulation and induction of the expression of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) such as ß-1, 3-glucanase (PR2) and chitinase (PR3). SA treatment increased the expression of PR2, the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and the concentration of antioxidant compounds at 7 days post-treatment. Earlier expression of PR3 compared to PR2 was observed. SA treatment delayed the detection of PVX by ELISA in uninoculated leaves of mechanically infected tomato plants. Although the effect of PVX infection on physiological parameters was weak, moderate SA treatments showed enhanced photosynthesis, particularly for infected plants. The results obtained confirm that SA promotes major changes in the induction of resistance in tomato plants and suggest that treatment with exogenous SA could be considered to reduce the infections caused by PVX.